WNMU regents pleased with Shepard

After a meeting packed full of public praise for university President Joseph Shepard, the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents announced that, in their evaluation too, he had exceeded expectations and earned the $25,000 “retention incentive” bonus they then approved.

Each year, WNMU regents gather to evaluate the university president’s performance over the last 12 months. And each year, that particular meeting draws one of the largest crowds of any throughout the year as community members come to weigh in on their experiences with the university’s leader.

On Tuesday, the crowd of a dozen or so business and nonprofit leaders as well as past and present students had nothing but good things to say about Shepard’s fifth year at the helm.

Jason Quimby, a self-proclaimed “professional student” at WNMU, thanked Shepard for his work at the university.

“Me personally, I pride myself in getting my degree underneath Joe,” Quimby said. “He has brought this university forward in technology and infrastructure and he did so in ingenuitive ways, utilizing current structures that saved the university quite a bit while making it prosper.”

Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner has more experience than most with Shepard’s job, as he held it as interim president in the 1990s. He said that he has been more impressed with Shepard than anyone else who has held the position in recent memory.

“As interim president, one of my jobs was to heal the rift between faculty and staff, but also between the university and the community,” said Ladner, who grew closer to and joined community organizations through that association. “The relationship that now exists between the community and the university is the best it has ever been. Dr. Shepard deserves much of the credit for this. He has reached out to the town and we have been able to partner on many projects. Several community organizations have great spaces to hold their meetings now. He has opened up the university to the community and invited us all to come in.”

Jeremiah Garcia offered a unique perspective as both the current president of the Gila Regional Medical Center board of trustees and a longtime executive with utility companies PNM and New Mexico Gas. He said that in his capacity with the utility companies, Shepard was always safety-first.

“Joe came into numerous problems with infrastructure, leaks on systems, you name it,” Garcia said. “Together we focused on the safety for students and buildings and property. I worked very well with maintenance departments under him and we worked together on strategic plans.”

Garcia now works closely with Shepard and his administration.

“You have one of the best, outstanding nursing programs in New Mexico,” he said. “We at Gila Regional Medical Center really have an opportunity to work with his team with those nursing programs. One of the caveats we have is recruitment. It is difficult to recruit nurses from outside the area. Luckily, we breed our own here, raise them, educate them, employ them and hopefully keep them in this community. Talk about economic development.”

Speaking of which, business leaders also praised Shepard’s achievements.

“In the last 15 years, I have worked with eight different colleges and university presidents,” said Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Scott Terry. “And let me tell you, Joe is not just an education but an economic driver.”

He also said Shepard’s connection to the community was evident, if not by the outpouring of support on Tuesday, by the fact that everyone who had spoken called him, simply, “Joe.”

Shepard’s support of children was championed by Susie Trujillo, Aldo Leopold Charter School Director Wayne Sherwood and more.

A diverse field of business owners —from Lawley Automotive owner Paul Leetmae, John Mahl of J&J Signs, Diane Barrett of Diane’s Restaurant, Parlor and Bakery, and Chris Schlabach, co-owner of Gila Hike & Bike — all thanked Shepard for his focus on partnering with local businesses.

The regents themselves also enthusiastically applauded Shepard’s accomplishments, especially in closing the gap between Western and the community.

“As a parent of three kids, I have the support of Dr. Shepard,” said Arlean Murillo, student regent on the board. “My kids came to the Child Development Center. Then, I became a Cub Scout leader. All those boys love Dr. Shepard. Having the football players coming to the school, cleaning yards in Tyrone. We have boys, 7 or 8 years old, saying they already want to go to Western. He has become one of us. He doesn’t put himself up like, ‘I am the president. You will address me as the president.’”

“In order for this university to survive and thrive in the present and future, it has to be a collective and collaborative effort,” said Regent Dan Salzwedel. “Dr. Shepard gets that.”

Other regents told Shepard they look forward to continuing to work with him.

“You can’t leave because you have a lot of work to finish up here,” said Janice Baca-Argabright. “But I have seen such a difference, with the campus and academics.”

“I would like to thank you and your staff,” said Carl Foster. “I ask some very tough questions and demand some very strong answers and they come up with them.”

Board of Regents Chair Jerry Walz thanked the crowd for their input.

“Dr. Shepard’s contract isn’t up for renewal right now, so there isn’t a vote on that,” he said. “But we pay attention. We hear you. We can’t exist in a vacuum, we won’t exist in a vacuum.”

Shepard said that he was touched by the public support and that he felt close to the community as well.

“When I came here, I came to be president of a university and wander around in the Gila Wilderness,” he said. “I am still here because I found a family.”

The board unanimously approved the $25,000 retention incentive bonus. That is included in Shepard’s contract to be delivered every year he either meets or exceeds the Board of Regents’ expectations. He will receive that in addition to his annual $275,000 salary.